Derrick construction



Feb. 26, 1963 Filed Dec. 11, 1961 W. ECKHARDT DERRICK CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

INVENTOR.

.Feb. 26, 1963 w. E-CKHARDT 3,079,006

DERRICK CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 11, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 6. 4 FIG. 5

Feb. 26, 1963 w. ECKHARDT 3,079,006

DERRICK CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 11, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. A/dZ/ZA/V' son 11w? BY v United States Patent Ofiice 3,079,006 Patented Feb. 26, 1963 3,079,006 DERRICK CONSTRUQTIQN Wolfgang Eckhardt, Hamburg-Grossflottbek, Germany,

assignor to H. C. Stulcken Sohn, Hamhurg-Steinwerder,

Germany Filed Dec. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 158,471 Claims priority, application Germany Dec. 13, 1960 18 Claims. (Cl. 212-3) The present invention relates to derricks in general, and more particularly to a derrick construction which is especially suited for use as a ship hoist.

An important object of the invention is to provide a derrick construction wherein the boom may be topped in vertical directions and/or swung in lateral directions with the help of a single hanger winch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a derrick construction of the just outlined characteristics wherein the boom may be swung in lateral directions by means of a power-driven capstan whose energy requirements are exceptionally low and which may be mounted directly on the boom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a derrick construction which may be utilized for handling of exceptionally heavy loads even though its energy requirements need not exceed the energy requirements of conventional derricks.

An additional object of my invention is to provide a derrick construction of the above outlined characteristics wherein a single flexible motion transmitting means may adjust the working inclination and the lateral movements of the boom, and wherein a single mast is sufficient to properly support the boom.

With the above objects in view, the invention resides in the provision of a derrick construction which comprises a supporting means preferably including a mast which carries a cross tree or a like supporting structure at a distance above the ground, a boom or jib whose lower portion is connected to the mast or to another com ponent of the supporting means at a level below the cross tree so that the boom may turn about a horizontal and/or a vertical pivot axis, and means for turning the boom about the two axes including a hanger winch, powerdriven rotary capstan means secured to the upper end portion of the boom, anchoring means provided on the cross tree at one side of the boom, guide means provided on the cross tree at the other side of the boom, and a flexible element which has one of its end portions secured to the anchoring means and whose other end portion is anchored in the winch drum. The flexible element ongages with the capstan and passes about the guide means so that, when the winch is operated in order that its drum may pay out or collect the flexible element, the boom is topped by turning about the horizontal pivot axis to adjust its working inclination and, when the capstan is operated to travel along the flexible element toward the guide means or toward the anchoring means, the boom is swung about the vertical pivot axis.

Certain other features of the invention reside in special mounting of the capstan at the upper end of the boom, in special construction of the capstan so that it may engage with a flexible element in the form of a rope, cable, chain or beaded cord, in the provision of tackles which enable the boom to lift very heavy loads, and in the provision of special guide rolls which retain the flexible element in requisite position with respect to the capstan.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the apended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a derrick construction which embodies one form of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a power-driven rotary capstan which forms part of the means for turning the boom in the derrick construction of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is a view similar to FIG. 2, but shows certain parts of the capstan in section and indicates an electric cable;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a. boom whose upper end portion coaxially supports a modified capstan;

FIG. 4 is a similar fragmentary side elevational view of a boom whose upper end portion supports a capstan having an axis which is perpendicular to and intersects the axis of the boom;

FIG. 5 illustrates the structure of FIG. 4 in a position turned through degrees about the axis of the boom;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a boom whose upper end portion supports a capstan having a horizontal axis of rotation which is perpendicular to and laterally ofl'set from the longitudinal axis of the boom;

FIG. 7 illustrates the structure of FIG. 6 in a position turned through 90 degrees about the axis of the boom;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view of; a boom and of a diflerently guided flexible element which forms part of the means for turning the boom;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a different capstan which comprises a sprocket for guiding and driving a flexible element in the form of a chain; and

FIG. 10 is a transverse section through a capstan whose drum is formed with concave peripheral grooves or seats for the beads of a flexible element which passes about and engages with the drum.

Referring now in greater detail to the illustrated embodiments, and first to FIG. 1, there is shown a derrick construction which is assumed to be mounted on the deck 1 of a ship and which comprises supporting means including an upright mast 2 anchored in the deck 1 and supporting a cross tree 3 at a point spaced from the deck. The lower end portion if a boom or jib 4 is turnably supported in a connecting means including a bracket 5 which is fixed to the mast 1 at a point below the cross tree 3 and a so-called derrick socket 6 including a pivot pin 7 turnable in the bracket 5 about a vertical axis. The socket 6 has a bifurcated upper portion which supports the lower end portion of the boom 4 in such a way that the boom is turnable about the horizontal axis of a second pivot pin 8. In other words, the connecting means 5, 6 supports the boom 4 in such a way that the latter is selectively or simultaneously turnable about the vertical axis of the pin 7 or about the horizontal axis of the pin 8 which latter secures the lower end portion of the boom to the bifurcated upper portion forming part of the socket 6.

The upper end portion or head of the boom 4 carries a motor-driven rotary capstan 9 whose construction will be explained in connection with FIG. 2. This capstan forms part of the means for turning the boom about the connecting means 5, 6, and this turning means further comprises an anchoring member in the form of an eye bolt 10 which is secured to one arm of the cross tree 3 at one side of the boom 4, a guide pulley 11 which is secured to the other arm of the cross tree 3 and is located at the other side of the boom, a manually operable or motor-driven hanger winch 12 which is mounted on the deck 1, and a flexible element here shown as a cable or rope 13 which has one of its ends anchored in the drum of the hanger Winch 12 and whose other end is secured that, if the winch 12 is operated in a sense to pay out the cable 13 and the capstan 9 is rotated in anticlockwise direction to travel along the cable 13 in a direction toward the guide pulley 11, the boom will turn about the horizontal pin 8 to change its working inclination and its head will descend while the length of the cable portion extending between the capstan and the anchoring member will increase at the same rate as the length of the cable-portion extending between the capstan and the guide pulley 11. On the other hand, if it is desired to swing the boom 4 about the vertical pin 7, the Winch 12 remains idle and the motor of the capstan 9 is driven in a direction to move the capstan toward the anchoring member 10 or toward the guide pulley 11. Gf course, it is possible to operate the winch and the capstan motor in such away that the head of the boom rises or descends and is simultaneously swung toward or away from the guide pulley 11.

The cargo hoisting gear of the derrick construction includes a load supporting book 14 which is mounted at the free end of a second cable 14a passing about a guide pulley 15 secured to the head of the boom 4, about a second guide pulley 16 which is secured to the socket 6, and having its other end anchored in the drum of a load winch mounted on the deck 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the hollow rotary member or drum 18 of the power-driven capstan 9 accommodates a reversible motor 19 and a transmission adapted to drive this drum in clockwise or anticlockwise direction in a manner well known in the art. The drum 18 is rotatable in a cage or frame 20 which is provided with an eye 21 sent.-

ing as a means for articulately suspending the capstan on the-eye bolt 4a provided on the head of the boom 4. The cage 20 comprises several interconnected U-shaped bails 22 some or all of which are provided with guide rolls 23 having axes perpendicular to the axis of the drum 18. These rolls extend into close proximity of the periphery of-the drum and serve as a means for maintaining the convolutions 13a of the cable 13 in spaced relation. It will be noted that the rolls 23 extend substantially radially with respect to the drum 18 so that they positively prevent any undesirable intermingling or overlapping of the convolutions 13a.

As-shown in FIG. 2A, one end of the hollow drum 18'is rotatably supported on a hollowshaft member 40 rigidly secured-to frame 20. Shaft member 49 turthersupports the housing of motor 19. The other end of drum 13 is rotatably supported on a shaftmember 41 which is.

likewise secured to frame 29. Mounted on the motor housing 19 are pins 42 carrying pinions 43 which are in mesh with a gear 44 mounted on the shaft of motor 19 and are further in mesh with internal teeth 45 provided in the hollow drum 18. An electric cable 46 passes through the hollow shaft member 49 and is connected to motor 19. When the motor is energized, gear 44 will be rotated aud will cause the pinions 43 to turn on their pins 42 Pinions 43 will then drive drum 18 through the internal teeth 45 of the'latter.

FlGQ3 illustrates a modified capstan 1%)? including a drum 11Srnounted on a shaft 124 whose axis coincides with the axis of .the boom ,4, lie. the capstan 109 is coaxial with and is rotatably mounted at the upper end portion of the boom. The drum 118 is driven by a reversible motor 119 which ismounted on but preferably in the head of theflboomA and which drives a transmission 125 coupled to the shaft 124.

The cable 13 is guided by rolls 123 whose axes are substantially perpendicular to the axes of the shaft 124 and boom 4. The rolls 123 are mounted in a suitable frame 120 secured to the housing of the transmission 125.

FIGS. 4 and illustrateja difierently mounted capstan 209 including a rotary drum 218 whose shaft 224 is perpendicular to the axis of the boom 4 and is mounted in 'a two-armed bracket 226 carried by the housing of the transmission 125. The cable 13 is guided by two groups of guide rolls including a first group of rolls 223 whose axes are perpendicular to the axis of the drum 218 and substantially perpendicular to the axis of the boom 4, and a second group of rolls 223a whose axes are perpendicular to the axis of the boom but are parallel with the axis of the drum 218. In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, one guide roll 223 is provided at each side of the drum 218, and the purpose of these rolls is to guide the convolutions 13a in planes which are substantially parallel to the axis of the boom. The pairwise arranged rolls 223a guide the cable 13 independently of the angle enclosed by the cable portions 13b, 13c. The carriers which support the rolls 223, 223a are secured to the housing of the transmission 125.

The embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 is analogous to that shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, excepting that the s aft 224 of the capstan drum 218 is supported by a modified twoarmed bracket 325 so that the axis of the drum 218 is laterally offset from and is perpendicular to the axis of the boom 4. The guide rolls 323 are mounted in the same way and perform the same function as the rolls 223 of FIGS. 4 and 5.

The transmission 125 preferably includes a self-locking device, such as a worm and a meshing worm Wheel, in order to enable the capstan to operate without a. brake. A brake is always necessary if the transmission includes only a simple gear train.

FIG. 8 illustrates a modified derrick construction in which the cable 13 includes three cable portions 13A, 13B, 13C extending between the twin guide rolls 11A, 11B and the head'of the boom 4, and three cable portions 13A, 13B, 13C extending between the anchoring member 19A and the boom head. "T he capstan 209 is of the type shown in FIGS. 4 and S, i.e. the axis of its drum 218 is perpendicular to and intersects the axis of the boom. The transmission and the motor of the capstan 209 are assumed to be concealed in the upper end portion of the boom. The cable 13 extends from the hanger Winch 12 about the guide pulley 11A, about a second guide pulley 30 which is suspended on the head of the boom 4 at a point below the capstan 209, about the guide pulley 11B, about the drum 213 of the capstan 209, about the guide pulley 31 carried by the anchoring member 10A, about a further guide pulley 32 which is secured to the head of a boom 4 preferably in mirror symmetry with the pulley 3g), and the second end of the cable 13 is then secured to the anchoring member 10A. In other words, the cable 13 passes about a first threefold tackle including the pulieys 11A, 11B and 3t and about a second threefold tackle including the pulleys 31, 32.

If the motor of the capstan 26? is idle and the winch .12 is operated, the head of the boom 4 will perform a composite movement including a movement about the pivot pin 7 and about the pin 8 (see FIG. 1). If it is desired to top the boom without any swinging movement, i.e. if the boom is to pivot solely about the horizontal pin 8, the capstan 209 must be driven in a sense to make sure that the length of cable portions 13A, 13B, 13C, increases or decreases at the same rate as the length of cable portions 13A, 13B, If the motor of the capstan is driven and the winch 12 remains idle, the boom will swivel in an are about the axis of the vertical pin 7 so that the load supporting hook (not shown) travels on the periphery of a circle.

The bracket 33 which supports the guide rolls 11A, 11B is mounted on one arm 3a of the cross tree, and the anchoring member NA is mounted on the other arm 3b of the cross tree.

it will be noted that I provide a derrick construction in which a single hanger winch 12, in cooperation with a motor-driven capstan at the head of the boom, may bring about any desired movement of the boom, including topping and lateral swinging movements of the boom, in contrast to known derrick constructions of which I am aware at this time and which utilize two hanger Winches and two distinct cables each having one of its ends anchored in the respective winch and another end secured to the head of the boom. In such conventional constructions, it is necessary to operate both hanger winches at different speeds in order to bring about a swinging movement of the boom whereas the boom of my improved derrick construction may be swung back and forth about a vertical pivot axis merely by starting the motor of the capstan in clockwise or anticlockwise direction. The energy consumption of the capstan motor is very low since this motor is normally required to overcome a very small resistance when it swings the head of the boom about the vertical pivot pin 7. This accounts for the fact that the capstan motor may be accommodated in the capstan drum (FIG. 2) or that it may be mounted in the upper end of the boom (FIGS. 37). The arrangement of FIG. 8 is utilized when the boom is supposed to lift heavy loads because the tackles insure that the power requirements remain low. Since the improved derrick construction utilizes a single hanger winch, the housing which accommodates this winch is much smaller than the housings of twin Winches in derrick constructions of known design.

Finally, it is equally possible to replace the smoothsurfaced drum of the capstan 9, 109 or 209 by a powerdriven rotary member in the form of a sprocket 418 (FIG. 9) and to utilize a flexible element in the form of a link or coil chain 413 which need not be convoluted on the sprocket 418 but is engaged by this sprocket only to the extent necesaryto insure that the chain is properly guided and advanced "when the modified capstan 409 is driven by its motor in clockwise or anticlockwise direction. Therefore, the guide rolls may be dispensed with.

FIG. 10 illustrates a further modification according to which the rotary member or drum 518 of the capstan 509 is provided with uniformly spaced substantially hemispherical concave depressions 518a which serve as seats for uniformly spaced substantially spherical beads 513:: of a flexible element 513. Here, again, the flexible element 513 need not be convoluted about the drum 518 because the beads 5132 insure that the flexible element cannot slide with respect to the drum 518 when the latter is driven by the capstan motor in clockwise or anticlockwise direction. It is suflicient if only a portion of the flexible element is provided with beads 513a.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal'the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for vari-' ous applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to Letters Patent is:

1. In a derrick construction, in combination, supporting means; a boom having a lower portion and an upper portion; means for articulately connecting the lower portion of said boom to said supporting means so thatsaid lower portion is turnable about a substantially vertical axis and about a substantially horizontal axis; and means for turning said boom about said axes comprising winch means, power-driven rotary capstan means secured to the upper portion of said boom, anchoring means provided on said supporting means at one side of said boom, guide means provided on said supporting means at the other side of said boom, and a flexible element having a first portion secured to said anchoring means and a spaced second portion secured to said winch means, said flexible element passing about said guide means and about said capstan means intermediate said first and second portions thereof and engaging with said capstan means so that, when said capstan means is rotated it entrains the upper portion of said boom along said flexible element toward be secured by for connecting said rotary said guide means or toward said anchoring means while the boom turns about said vertical axis, said boom turning about said horizontal axis when the winch means is operated to pay out or to collect the flexible element.

2. In a derrick construction, in combination, supporting means; a boom having a lower portion and an upper portion; means for articulately connecting the lower portion of said boom to said supporting means so that said lower portion is turnable about a substantially vertical axis and about a substantiallly horizontal axis; and means for turning said boom about said axes comprising winch means, power-driven rotary capstan means, means for articulately suspending said capstan means on the upper portion of said boom, anchoring means provided on saidsupporting means at one side of said boom, guide means provided on said supporting means at the other side of said boom, and a flexible element having a first portion secured to said anchoring means and a spaced second portion secured to said winch means, said flexible element passing about said guide means and about said capstan means intermediate said first and second portions thereof and engaging with said capstan means so that, when said capstan means is rotated it entrains the upper portion of said boom along said flexible element toward said guide means or toward said anchoring means while the boom' turns about said vertical axis, said boom turning about said horizontal axis when the winch means is operated to pay out or to collect the flexible element.

3. In a derrick construction, in combination, supporting means; a boom having a lower portion and an .upperportion; means for articulately connecting the lower por-' tion of said boom to said supporting means so that said lower portion is turnable about a substantially vertical axis and about a substantially horizontal axis; and means for turning said boom about said axes comprising winch means, power-driven capstan means including a rotary member having an axis of rotation coinciding with the axis of said boom, means for connecting said rotary member to the upper portion of said boom, anchoring means provided on said supporting means at one side of said boom, guide means provided on said supporting means at the other side of said boom, and a flexible element having a first portion secured to said anchoring means and a spaced second portion secured to said winch means, said flexible element passing about said guidemeans and about said rotary member intermediate said first and second portions thereof and engaging with said rotary member so that, when said rotary member is rotated it entrains the upper portion of said boom along with said flexible element toward said guide means or toward said anchoring means while the boom turns about said vertical axis, said boom turning about said horizontal axis when the winch means is operated to pay out or to collect the flexible element.

4. In a derrick construction, in combination, supporting means; a boom having a lower portion and an upper portion; means for articulately connecting the lower portion of said boom to said supporting means so that said lower portion is turnable about a substantially vertical axis and about a substantially horizontal axis; and means for turning said boom about said axes comprising winch means, power-driven capstan means including a rotary member having an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of said boom, means member to the upper portion of said boom, anchoring means provided on said supporting means at one side of said boom, guide means provided on said supporting means at the other side of said boom, and a flexible element having a first portion secured to said anchoring means and a spaced second portion secured to said winch means, said flexible element passing about said guide means and about said rotary member intermediate said first and second portions thereof and engaging with said rotary member so that, when said rotary member is rotated it entrains the upper portion of said boom along.

apropos J said flexible element toward said guide means or toward said anchoring means while the boomturns about said vertical axis, said boom turning about said horizontal axis when the winch means is operated to pay out or to collect the flexible element.

In a derrick construction, in combination, support" ing means; a boom having a lowerportion and an upper portion; means for articulately connecting the lower portion of said boom to said supporting means so that said lower portion is turnable about a substantially vertical axis and about a substantially horizontal axis; and means for turning said boom about said axes comprising winch means, power-driven capstan means including a rotary member having an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to and oflset with respect to the axis of said boom, means for. connecting said rotary member to the upper portion of said boom, anchoring means provided on said supporting means at one side of said boom, guide means provided on said supporting means at the other side of said boom, and a flexible element having a first portion secured to said anchoring means and a spaced second portion secured to said winch means, said flexible element passing about said guide means and about said rotary member intermediate said first and second per tions thereof and engaging with said rotary member sothat, when said rotary member is rotated it entrains the upper portion of said boom along said flexible element toward said guide means, or toward said anchoring means while. the boom turns aboutv said vertical axis, said boom turning: about said horizontal axis'when the winch means is. operated to pay out-or to collect the flexible element, 6.-.In a derrick construction, in combination, supportingmeans; a boom having a lower portion and an upper portion; means for articulately connecting the lower portion of said boom to said supporting means so that said lower portion is turnable about a substantially vertical axis and about a substantially horizontal axis; and means for turning said boom about said axes comprising winch means, capstan means including a hollow rotary member, motor and transmission means mounted in and drivingly connected with said rotary member, means for connecting the capstan means to the upper portion of said boom, anchoring means provided on said supporting means at one side of said boom, guide means provided, on said supporting means at the other side of said boom, and a flexible element having a first portion secured to said anchoring means and a spaced second portion secured to said winch means, said flexible element passing about said guide means and about said rotary member intermediate said first and second portions thereof and engaging with said rotary member so that, when said rotary member is driven by said motor means it entrains the upper portion of said boom along said flexible element toward said guide means or toward said anchoring means while the boom turns about said vertical axis, said boom turning about said horizontal axis when the winch means is operated to pay out or to collect the flexible element;

7, In a derrick construction, in combination, supporting means; a boom having a lower portion and an upper portion; means for articulately connecting the lower portion of said boom to said supporting means so that said lower portion is turnable about a substantially vertical axis and about a substantially horizontal axis; and means for turning saidboom about said axes comprising winch means; capstan means including a rotary member mounted on the upper portion of said boom, motor and transmission means mounted in the upper portion of said boom and drivingly connected with said rotary member, anchoring means provided on said supporting means at one side of said boom, guide means provided on said supporting means at the other side of said boom, and a flexible element having a first portion secured to said anchoring means and a spaced second portion secured to said winch means, said flexible element passing about 2?; said guide means and about said rotary member inter? mediate said first and second portions thereof and engaging with said rotary member so that, when said member is driven by said motor means it entrains the, upper portion of said boom along said flexible element toward said guide means or toward said anchoring means while the boom turns about said vertical axis, said boom turning about said horizontal axis when the winch means is operated to pay out or to collect the flexible element.

8. In a derrick construction, in combination, supporting means; a boom having a lower portion and an upper portion; means for articulately connecting said boom to said supporting means so that said lower portion is turnable about a substantially vertical axis and about a substantially horizontal axis; means for turning said boom about said axes'comprising winch means, capstan means comprising a power-driven rotary member secured to the upper portion of said boom, anchoring means provided on said supporting means at one side of said boom, guide means provided on said supporting means at the other side of said boom, and a flexible element having a first portion secured to said anchoring means and a spaced second portion secured to said winch means, said flexible element passing about said guide means and convoluted about said rotary member intermediate said first and second portions thereof so that, when said rotary member is driven it entrains the upper portion of said boom along said flexible element toward said guide means. or toward said anchoring means while said boom turns about said vertical axis, said. boom turning about. said, horizontal axis when the winch means is operated to pay out or to collect the flexible element; and means comprising guide rolls provided at the upper portion of said boom for separating the convolutions of said flexible element on said rotary drum from each other.

9. A derrick construction as set forth in claim 8, wherein said capstan means comprises a cage Iotatably receiving said rotary member and supporting said guide rolls, said guide rolls extending substantially radially of and having axes substantially perpendicular to the axis of said rotary member.

10. A derrick construction as set forth in claim 8, wherein said guide rolls have axes substantially perpendicular to the axes of said rotary member and said boom.

11. A derrick construction as set forth in claim 8, wherein said guide rolls include a first group of guide rolls having axes substantially perpendicular to and a second group of guide rolls having axes substantially parallel with the axis of said rotary member.

12. In a derrick construction, in combination, supporting means; a boom having a lower portion and an upper portion; means for articulately connecting said boom to said supporting means so that said lower portion is turnable about a substantially vertical axis and about a substantially horizontal axis; and means for turning said boom about said axes comprising winch means, capstan means comprising a power-driven rotary sprocket secured to the upper portion of said boom, anchoring means provided on said supporting means at one side of said. boom. guide means provided on said supporting means at th other side of said boom, and a chain having a first portion secured to said anchoring means and a spaced second portion secured to said winch means, said chain passing about said guide means and about said sprocket intermediate saidfirst and second portions thereof so that, when said sprocket is driven it entrains the upper portion of said boom along said chain toward said guide means or toward said anchoring means while said boom turns about said vertical axis, said boom turning about said horizontal axis when the winch means is operated to pay out or to collect the chain. I

13. In a derrick construction, in combination, supporting means; a boom having a lower portion and an upper portion; means for articulately connecting the lower portion of said boom to said supporting means so that the boom is turnable about a substantially vertical axis and about a substantially horizontal axis; and means for turning said boom about said axes comprising which means, capstan means including a power-driven rotary member secured to the upper portion of said boom, anchoring means provided on said supporting means at one side of said boom, first tackle means including pulley means secured to said anchoring means, second tackle means including guide pulley mean-s secured to said supporting means at the other side of said boom, and a flexible element having a first portion secured to said anchoring means and a spaced second portion secured to said winch means, said flexible element mounted on said first and second tackle means and passing about said guide pulley means and about said rotary member intermediate said first and second portions thereof so that, when said rotary member is driven it entrains the upper portion of said boom along said flexible element toward said guide pulley means or toward said anchoring means while said boom turns about said vertical axis, said boom turning about said horizontal axis when said winch means is operated to pay out or to collect said flexible element.

14. In a derrick construction, in combination, supporting means including an upright mast and a cross tree secured to said mast; a boom having a lower portion and an upper portion; means for articulately connecting the lower portion of said boom to said mast at a level below said cross tree so that said lower portion is turnable about a substantially vertical axis and about a substantially horizontal axis; and means for turning said boom about said axes comprising winch means, power-driven rotary capstan means secured to the upper portion of said boom, anchoring means provided on said cross tree at one side of said boom, guide means provided on said cross tree at the other side of said boom, and a flexible element having a first portion secured to said anchoring means and a spaced second portion secured to said winch means, said flexible element passing about said guide means and about said capstan means intermediate said first and second portions thereof and engaging with said capstan means so that, when said capstan means is rotated it entrains the upper portion of said boom along said flexible clement toward said guide means or toward said anchoring means while the boom turns about said vertical axis, said boom turning about said horizontal axis when the winch means is operated to pay out or to collect the flexible element.

15. A derrick construction as set forth in claim 14, wherein said winch means is a manually operated hanger winch having a drum and said flexible element is a cable convoluted about said drum and about said rotary member.

16. In a derrick construction, in combination, supporting means; a boom having a lower portion and an upper portion; means for articulately connecting said boom to said supporting means so that said lower portion is turnable about a substantially vertical axis and about a substantially horizontal axis; and means for turning said boom about said axes comprising winch means, capstan means comprising a power-driven rotary member secured to the upper portion of said boom and having uniformly spaced concave peripheral seats, anchoring means provided on said supporting means at one side of said boom, guide means provided on said supporting means at the other side of said boom, and a flexible element having a first portion secured to said anchoring means and a spaced second portion secured to said winch means, said flexible element having a plurality of uniformly spaced substantially spherical beads and passing about said guide means and about said rotary member intermediate said first and second portions thereof, said beads received in the seats of said rotary member whereby, when said rotary member is driven it entrains the upper portion of said boom along said flexible element toward said guide means or toward said anchoring means while said boom turns about said vertical axis, said boom turning about said horizontal axis when the winch means is operated to pay out or to collect said flexible element.

17. In a derrick construction, in combination, supporting means; a boom having a lower portion and an upper portion; means for articulately connecting the lower portion of said boom to said supporting means so that said lower portion is turnable about a substantially vertical axis and about a substantially horizontal axis; and means for turning said boom about said axes comprising winch means, power-driven rotary capstan means secured to the upper portion of said boom, anchoring means provided on said supporting means at one side of said boom, a guide pulley provided on said supporting means at the other side of said boom, and a single flexible element having a first portion secured to said anchoring means and a spaced second portion secured to said winch means, said flexible element passing about said guide pulley and about said capstan means intermediate said first and second portions thereofi and engaging with said capstan means so that, when said capstan means is rotated it entrains the upper portion of said boom along said flexible element toward said guide pulley or toward said anchoring means while the boom turns about said vertical axis, said boom turning about said horizontal axis when the winch means is operated to pay out or to collect the flexible element.

18. In a derrick construction, in combination, supporting means; a boom having a lower portion and an upper portion; means for articulately connecting the lower portion of said boom to said supporting means so that the boom is turnable about a substantially vertical axis and about a substantially horizontal axis; and means for turning said boom about said axes comprising winch means, capstan means including a power-driven rotary member secured to the upper portion of said boom, anchoring means provided on said supporting means at one side of said boom, first three-fold tackle means ineluding pulley means secured to said anchoring means, second three-fold tackle means including guide pulley means secured to said supporting means at the other side of said boom, and a flexible element having a first portion secured to said anchoring means and a spaced second portion secured to said Winch means, and flexible element mounted on said first and second tackle means and passing about said guide pulley means and about said rotary member intermediate said first and second portions thereof so that, when said rotary member is driven it entrains the upper portion of said boom along said flexible element toward said guide pulley means or toward said anchoring means while said boom turns about said vertical axis, said boom turning about said horizontal axis when said winch means is operated to pay out or to collect said flexible element.

No references cited. 

1. IN A DERRICK CONSTRUCTION, IN COMBINATION, SUPPORTING MEANS; A BOOM HAVING A LOWER PORTION AND AN UPPER PORTION; MEANS FOR ARTICULATELY CONNECTING THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID BOOM TO SAID SUPPORTING MEANS SO THAT SAID LOWER PORTION IS TURNABLE ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL AXIS AND ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS; AND MEANS FOR TURNING SAID BOOM ABOUT SAID AXES COMPRISING WINCH MEANS, POWER-DRIVEN ROTARY CAPSTAN MEANS SECURED TO THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID BOOM, ANCHORING MEANS PROVIDED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEANS AT ONE SIDE OF SAID BOOM, GUIDE MEANS PROVIDED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEANS AT THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID BOOM, AND A FLEXIBLE ELEMENT HAVING A FIRST PORTION SECURED TO SAID ANCHORING MEANS AND A SPACED SECOND PORTION SECURED TO SAID WINCH MEANS, SAID FLEXIBLE ELEMENT PASSING ABOUT SAID GUIDE MEANS AND ABOUT SAID CAPSTAN MEANS INTERMEDIATE SAID FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS THEREOF AND ENGAGING WITH SAID CAPSTAN MEANS SO THAT, WHEN SAID CAPSTAN MEANS IS ROTATED IT ENTRAINS THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID BOOM ALONG SAID FLEXIBLE ELEMENT TOWARD SAID GUIDE MEANS OR TOWARD SAID ANCHORING MEANS WHILE THE BOOM TURNS ABOUT SAID VERTICAL AXIS, SAID BOOM TURN ING ABOUT SAID HORIZONTAL AXIS WHEN THE WINCH MEANS IS OPERATED TO PAY OUT OR TO COLLECT THE FLEXIBLE ELEMENT. 